HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has announced the availability of $1.5 million in funding aimed at enhancing harm reduction services across the state. This initiative is part of a broader effort to mitigate overdose deaths and improve community health outcomes.
The funding for these grants originates from the Publicis Health Opioid Settlement, a result of a comprehensive multistate investigation into opioid manufacturers and distributors. This investigation, led by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro, culminated in settlement agreements valued at billions of dollars. The settlement funds are now being redirected to fortify community-based responses to the opioid epidemic.
DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones emphasized the critical role of harm reduction in addressing the opioid crisis. “Harm reduction emphasizes engaging directly with individuals who use opioids and other drugs to prevent overdoses,” she stated. The department plans to distribute two grants, each up to $750,000, to eligible community-based organizations dedicated to harm reduction efforts.
The essence of harm reduction lies in its pragmatic approach to reducing the adverse effects associated with drug use. This includes access to life-saving tools like naloxone and drug checking strips and acknowledges the impact of social inequity on drug use and related harms.
Eligible applicants for the funding must be community organizations that focus on harm reduction strategies. These organizations play a crucial role in overdose prevention and the establishment of overdose prevention centers. The services eligible for funding cover a broad spectrum, including outreach in high-overdose areas, linkage to treatment and recovery services, and providing harm reduction-informed education and counseling.
Further eligible activities encompass offering sexual health education, shelter programs for individuals who use substances, peer-led support networks, and free testing for blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Public campaigns to reduce drug-use stigma and job training initiatives for drug users are also part of the eligible services.
A central tenet of this funding opportunity is health equity. Applicants are required to outline their engagement with diverse populations, including LGBTQ individuals and varied age groups, and demonstrate plans to expand services to these populations. Additionally, they must detail a training plan to ensure staff competence in serving diverse communities.
Applications for the funding must be submitted electronically by 12:00 PM on December 20, 2024. They will be assessed competitively, based on adherence to the funding guidelines and timeliness of submission.
This initiative represents a pivotal move by Pennsylvania’s DDAP to address the opioid crisis through inclusive, community-focused harm reduction strategies, with an emphasis on equitable healthcare access for all affected individuals.
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